A definition of Patriotism could and should be the defense of true justice and freedom. This
page will dedicated to that cause to inspire and encourage that which our country was founded on.
Subject: LAUS DEO !
Laus Deo! On the aluminum cap
atop the Washington Monument in Washington, DC are two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact ... most
visitors to the monument have no idea they are even there and ... for that matter ... probably could care less! But
there they are . 555 feet, 5.125 inches high ... perched atop the monument to the father of our nation ... overlooking
the 69 square miles which comprise the District of Columbia ... capital of the United States of America. Laus
Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words ...out of sight and, one might think, out of mind . but very
meaningfully placed at the highest point over what is the most powerful city in the world. And what might those
two words ... comprised of just four syllables and only seven letters . mean? Very simply . "Praise be to God!"
Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848 when James Polk was President of the United States,
it was not until 1888 that the monument was inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty-five years to
finally cap the memorial with the tribute Laus Deo! Praise be to God! From atop this magnificent granite and
marble structure ... a visitor can take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into four
major segments. And from that vantage point one can also easily see the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles
l'Enfant . a perfect cross imposed upon the landscape ... with the White House to the north ... the Jefferson
Memorial to the south ... the Capitol to the east ... and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. A cross ... you say?
How interesting! And . no doubt . intended to carry a meaning for those who bother to notice. Praise be to God!
Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50 landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings
the memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th
is a memorial presented by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday School children from
New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7, Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God! When the cornerstone
of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th, 1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy
Bible presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline, the moral direction, the spiritual mood
given by the founder and first President of our unique democracy ... "one nation, under God." I am awed by
Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it? Well, now is your opportunity ... read on! "Almighty
God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline
the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly
affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at large." "And finally that
Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with
that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our
blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy
nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Laus Deo! As you
might have guessed ... I kind of like the idea that our Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase "under God." It
is clear when one studies the history of our great nation that Washington's America was one of the few countries in all
the world established under the guidance, direction and banner of Almighty God, to whom was given all praise, honor
and worship by the great men who formed and fashioned her pivotal foundations. And ... when one stops to observe the inscriptions
found in public places all over our nation's capitol ... one will easily find the signature of God. We are
a nation under God!!! Laus Deo!!! Praise be to God!!! "Unless the Lord builds the house its builders labor
in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)
After you check your state(s), look at the last two paragraphs.
America's founders did not intend for there to be a separation of God and
state, as shown by the fact that all 50 states acknowledge God in their state constitutions:
Alabama 1901, Preamble. We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor
and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution ...
Alaska 1956, Preamble. We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those
who founded our nation and pioneered this great land ...
Arizona 1911, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty
God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution...
Arkansas 1874, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to
Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government...
California 1879, Preamble. We, the People of the State of California, grateful
to Almighty God for our freedom ..
Colorado 1876, Preamble. We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for
the Supreme Ruler of Universe ..
Connecticut 1818, Preamble. The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude
the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy ...
Delaware 1897, Preamble. Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the
rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences ..
Florida 1845, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty
God for our constitutional liberty ... establish this Constitution...
Georgia 1777, Preamble. We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and
guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution...
Hawaii 1959, Preamble. We, the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance,
establish this Constitution ..
Idaho 1889, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty
God for our freedom, to secure its blessings ...
Illinois 1870, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to
Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him
for a blessing on our endeavors ..
Indiana 1851, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty
God for the free exercise of the right to chose our form of government ..
Iowa 1857, Preamble. We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme
Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings ... establish
this Constitution
Kansas 1859, Preamble. We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for
our civil and religious privileges ... establish this Constitution.
Kentucky 1891, Preamble. We, the people of the Commonwealth of grateful to Almighty
God for the civil, political and religious liberties...
Louisiana 1921, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to
Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy ..
Maine 1820, Preamble. We the People of Maine .. acknowledging with grateful hearts
the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity ... and imploring His aid and direction
...
Maryland 1776, Preamble. We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to
Almighty God or our civil and religious liberty...
Massachusetts 1780, Preamble. We...the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging
with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe ... in the course of His Providence, an opportunity
.and devoutly imploring His direction ...
Michigan 1908, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to
Almighty God for the blessings of freedom ... establish this Constitution
Minnesota, 1857, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful
to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings
Mississippi 1890, Preamble. We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled,
grateful to Almighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
Missouri 1845, Preamble. We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for
the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness .. establish this Constitution ...
Montana 1889, Preamble. We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for
the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ...
Nebraska 1875, Preamble. We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom
.. establish this Constitution.
Nevada 1864, Preamble. We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty
God for our freedom, establish this Constitution ..
New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V. Every individual has a natural and
unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience ...
New Jersey 1844, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful
to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing
on our endeavors ...
New Mexico 1911, Preamble. We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty
God for the blessings of liberty ..
New York 1846, Preamble. We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to
Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings ...
North Carolina 1868, Preamble. We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful
to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our
dependence upon Him for the continuance of those ...
North Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty
God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain...
Ohio 1852, Preamble. We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty
God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common ...
Oklahoma 1907, Preamble. Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure
and perpetuate the blessings of liberty ... establish this
Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2. All men shall be secure in
the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences ...
Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble. We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty
God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance
Rhode Island 1842, Preamble. We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful
to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a
blessing
South Carolina, 1778, Preamble. We, the people of the State of South Carolina
grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution ...
South Dakota 1889, Preamble. We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty
God for our civil and religious liberties ... establish this
Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III. That all men have a natural and indefeasible right
to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience...
Texas 1845, Preamble. We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with
gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God ...
Utah 1896, Preamble. Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish
this Constitution ..
Vermont 1777, Preamble. Whereas all government ought to ... enable the individuals
who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ...
Virginia 1776, Bill of Rights, XVI ... Religion, or the Duty which we owe our
Creator ... can be directed only by Reason ... and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love
and Charity towards each other ...
Washington 1889, Preamble. We the People of the State of Washington, grateful
to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution ..
West Virginia 1872, Preamble. Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings
of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia .. reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance
upon God ..
Wisconsin 1848, Preamble. We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God
for our freedom, domestic tranquility ..
Wyoming 1890, Preamble. We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God
for our civil, political, and religious liberties ... establish this Constitution ..
After reviewing acknowledgments of God from all 50 state constitutions, one is
faced with the prospect that maybe, just maybe, the ACLU and the out-of-control federal courts are wrong!
"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants."
William Penn
" HISTORY FORGOTTEN"
This
is worth remembering, because it is true. It's familiar territory, but..... Those of you that graduated from school after
the early 60's were probably never taught this. Our courts have seen to that !
Did you know that 52 of the 55
signers of "The Declaration of Independence" were orthodox, deeply committed, Christians? The other three all believed in
the Bible as the divine truth, the God of scripture, and His personal intervention. It is the same Congress that formed the
American Bible Society, immediately after creating the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress voted to purchase
and import 20,000 copies of Scripture for the people of this nation. Patrick Henry, who is called the firebrand of the American
Revolution, is still remembered for his words, "Give me liberty or give me death"; but in current textbooks, the context of
these words is omitted. Here is what he actually said:
"An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left
us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God that presides over the destinies of nations. The battle,
sir, is not to the strong alone. Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death."
These
sentences have been erased from our textbooks. Was Patrick Henry a Christian? The following year, 1776, he wrote this:
"It
cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians;
not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom
of worship here."
Consider these words that Thomas Jefferson wrote in the front of his well-worn Bible:
"I
am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will
soon be rallied to the unity of our creator."
He was also the chairman of the American Bible Society, which he considered
his highest and most important role. On July 4, 1821, President Adams said,
"The highest glory of the American Revolution
was this: "It connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity."
Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President of the United States reaffirmed this truth when he wrote,
"The foundations
of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if
faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."
In 1782, the United States Congress
voted this resolution:
"The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools."
William Holmes McGuffey is the author of the McGuffey Reader, which was used for over 100 years in our public schools
with over 125 million copies sold until it was stopped in 1963. President Lincoln called him the "Schoolmaster of the Nation."
Listen to these word of Mr. McGuffey:
"The Christian religion is the religion of our country. From it are derived
our nation, on the character of God, on the great moral Governor of the universe. On its doctrines are founded the peculiarities
of our free Institutions. From no source has the author drawn more conspicuously than from the sacred Scriptures. From all
these extracts from the Bible, I make no apology."
Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly
Christian, including the first, HarvardUniversity, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number
1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the Scriptures: "Let every student
be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies, is, to know God and Jesus
Christ, which is eternal life,
John 17:3; and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation for our children
to follow the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."
James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of
the United States, said this:
"We have staked the whole future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity
of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments."
Today, we are
asking God to bless America. But, how can He bless a Nation that has departed so far from Him? Prior to September 11, He was
not welcome in America. Most of what you read in this article has been erased from our textbooks. Revisionists have rewritten
history to remove the truth about our country's Christian roots. You are encouraged to share with others, so that the truth
of our nation's history will be told.
John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life!
This information shared is only a drop of cement to
help secure a foundation that is crumbling daily in a losing war that most of the country doesn't even know is raging on,
in, and around them... Please do your bit and share this with as many as possible and make the ill-informed aware of what
they once had.
May Your Day Be Blessed And As Special As You Are.
